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Application form
Please make sure you have read all the notes carefully before you start to fill in the application form. This application form can either be completed by hand or electronically - it is available on the Planning homepage at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning. Please complete all five sections. The deadline for submitting applications is 8 September 2006. An acknowledgement letter will be sent to the person who has completed this form.
1 Please provide a name and contact details of the lead organisation responsible for this work.
Name | Karl Doroszenko |
Job title | Policy and Projects Manager |
Organisation | East Ayrshire Council |
Address | 6 Croft Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1JB |
Telephone | 01563 576751 |
Fax | 01563 576774 |
Email | karl.doroszenko@east-ayrshire.co.uk |
2 If this is a joint application, please list the other partners who had a key role. You should also inform your partners that you are nominating the project for an award.
1 EA Community Planning & Partnership Unit | 2 East Ayrshire local communities |
3 | 4 |
5 | 6 |
3 Tick the category of nomination
Title of entry | Planning with Communities, for Communities |
Please complete the form on the following pages by providing a brief summary of the piece of work you have entered. You must also conclude with a key reason as to why you think this work merits an Award. Only the two A4 pages supplied here can be used and your text must fit within the boxes. The font size should be no less than 12pt.
The judging criteria are set out below. Please tick only the key criteria relevant to your entry:
You must describe, in your written submission, how the criteria which you have ticked relate to your project.
Description of project
This project involves the regeneration of communities through a 'bottom up' approach to planning. Communities are engaged to become involved in all aspects of the Community Action Plan process including survey, production of Action Plans, securing funding and implementation of projects. The end result of the process is a better understanding of the planning process as well as greater involvement and therefore empowerment in the regeneration process. The completion of improvement projects on the ground is almost seen as a second level outcome. Projects within each community are identified and prioritised to maximise investment, environmental and economic benefit to the community; promote partnership; promote capacity building and engagement within communities; ensure future maintenance/sustainability of the community; and maximise leverage of external funding. The Action Plans incorporate the key Community Planning Partnership aims with regard to improving the environment and are facilitated by planning staff within the Policy & Projects Section of the Planning, Development & Building Standards Division of the Council. There are direct links with the statutory planning process including the involvement of communities at the draft and finalised stage of plan production and the increased contact of communities with professional planning staff. |
Context - describe the background to the project
The Action Plans are prepared and implemented as a recognised set of proposals within the existing Adopted East Ayrshire Local Plan and the current Alteration to the East Ayrshire Local Plan. This has ensured that there has been an increased and improved public consultation and awareness of the statutory planning process through the Action Plans. The East Ayrshire Community Plan states that 'improving the environment of East Ayrshire as a place to live, work and visit is critical'. The Community Action Plans are identified as a key delivery mechanism within the Community Plan's "Improving the Environment" and "Improving Opportunities" Action Plans 2003-2007. East Ayrshire, ranks 5 th in terms of local concentrations of deprivation (Scottish Indices of Deprivation 2003) placing it among the worst 5% in Scotland. |
What are the aims and objectives of the project?
The aims and objectives of the programme are to; actively involve communities at all levels in the planning and Community Action Plan processes, increase community capacity and engagement and regenerate communities. The programme raises awareness of the planning process at a community level and breaks down barriers that have traditionally been a hindrance to regeneration. A rolling programme of projects which regenerate and enhance the environmental quality of individual communities are carried out whilst maximising available funding. The end result is an increase in community satisfaction through partnership working. Community Action Plans have provided a basis for planning proposals which have been transferred directly into the Finalised East Ayrshire Local Plan |
Timescale - over what timescale has the project been developed?
The Community Action Plan process was started in 2001 since when a total of 13 plans have been produced through a rolling programme targeting the most deprived communities. Through the Action Plans, a number of new community groups have been formed and over 30 projects implemented. Information from the Action Plans has been fed into the East Ayrshire Local Plan throughout the draft and finalised stages. |
Action - explain the process and action taken
(i)Planning staff instigate community meetings to develop a basis for a draft Action Plan. (ii) Initial draft plan produced by planning staff in consultation with a key local community group. (iii)Community consultation exercise carried out, including exhibitions, meetings and a household questionnaire.(see photos). (iv)Finalised Action Plan identifying priority projects produced & circulated to all community groups & interested parties. (v) Community group engaged by planning staff to implement priority projects (new group set up if required). (vi) Projects developed and implemented and external funding secured with the assistance of planning staff. (vii) Planning applications submitted as required by community groups. (viii) Community Feedback forms sent to all community groups involved with individual projects to evaluate performance. (ix) Process is repeated for settlements throughout East Ayrshire on a rolling programme. (x) Continual monitoring and evaluation of project development and implementation to ensure best value and satisfaction. |
Explain the role of the key partners
EAC Policy & Projects Section (planning staff) - professional advice and support provided to assist the community in the production of Action Plans, coordination & development of projects and submission of funding applications, monitoring and evaluation. EA Community Planning & Partnership Unit - provision of "seedcorn" funding/ monitoring and evaluation. EA local communities & groups - key role in development of the Community Action Plans, community consultation process and identification and implementation of a wide range of community projects. |
Results - what results were achieved?
The level of external funding levered in has resulted in £7 income for every £1 CRF grant spent with the estimated number of beneficiaries exceeding 29,000 people. When compared against the National Standards for Community Engagement, the programme scored 4s and 5s, demonstrating the real success of the programme, high quality engagement. Through successful partnership working, 13 Action Plans have been prepared with communities, for communities. There has been a significant increase in the number community groups involved in the statutory development control process for local projects and a greater awareness of the planning process with the key East Ayrshire Local Plan sites being incorporated into the Action Plans, (see the copy of the Catrine Community Environmental Action Plan and the Catrine East Ayrshire Local Plan map). Over 30 projects have been completed, two additional staff have been appointed and over 100 funding applications have been submitted with only 9 not receiving support. Communities are increasingly taking on maintenance responsibility and the level of vandalism is lower than previously expected. |
Conclusion - in summary, why does this piece of work merit an Award?
The direct link between planning staff and communities developed throughout this programme has helped strengthen the understanding of the planning and regeneration process by communities. The process has provided planning staff with a clearer insight into communities and resulted in the planning process working for the communities. It has built community spirit and cohesion and developed partnership working. New community groups have been created and existing groups strengthened, contributing significantly towards building the capacity and confidence of local people to become involved in the statutory planning process. Confidence levels have been raised, particularly where communities have secured significant project funding and an increased sense of 'ownership' has been created as a direct result of the community involved in the regeneration and planning process. |
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